Fire extinguisher regulations

N

northern

Well-Known Member
Jan 17, 2007
3,525
Anacortes Washington
Boat Info
380 Aft Cabin 1989 Charts Timezero radar Furuno
Engines
Twin 454 strait shaft
We had an out of water survey done on the boat in August. The following is one item that was flagged for correction:
“The following conditions were found that are violation of US law or regulations.
The seven fire extinguishers aboard are due for inspection/recharge by a licenced technician.
Tags/log should be noted when completed. All should be mounted and readily available.”

Questions:
Is the requirement for licenced technician a real requirement? If so how often do you need to get it done?
If you purchase new extinguishers how long are they good for?
Is self-inspection acceptable?

Comments:
We had one extinguisher loose in the forward cabin all others were mounted.
The reason for 7 I have one in each area of the boat. Each year I look at them and if the needle is in the green I assume they are fine.
 
I've gotten a USCG Auxiliary Vessel Safety Check for the past 10 years and have never been flagged for anything like that. The only comment I've ever gotten from an Auxiliaryman was to turn the extinguisher upside down and bang on the bottom occasionally to loosen the powder that may have settled to the bottom.
 
rondds said:
I've gotten a USCG Auxiliary Vessel Safety Check for the past 10 years and have never been flagged for anything like that. The only comment I've ever gotten from an Auxiliaryman was to turn the extinguisher upside down and bang on the bottom occasionally to loosen the powder that may have settled to the bottom.
Click to expand...
+1
 
As far as I know you must have the proper quantities and class of extinguishers.
They must be USCG Approved and not expired or in the "low" charge.

See: http://forms.cgaux.org/archive/a7012.pdf

They could just be showing "low" on the gauge or past the expiration date for non-guaged units.

-Kevin
 
I have been boarded twice by the Coast Guard for inspections - once in south florida, the other while on a bare boat charter in the pacific northwest.

Both times they verified that the fire extinguishers were not out of date. They also checked the date on the Halon canister.

Just my experience.
 
Thanks all
Think I will go buy two new ones that comply. All gauges are in the middle of the green. Never have turned them over and banged them.
Is there an expiry date on extinguisher?
In the oil business you had to do monthly inspection (Sign tag) and once a year we sent them out to be serviced.
 
An out of date fire extinguisher is inadequate as far as the USCG is concerned. The only way to get it recertified is to have it checked and tested by a licensed technician.
 
I was told the same on my survey on my hand held extinguishers/halon they were from 2002, surveryor stated that over 10 years they should be replaced. Or as was shared with you they must be weighed by a certified facility and tagged as such with a date. The only one I have had this done to was my Halon system which failed to weigh properly and I had to replace it with a new one for a cost of $2000.. The small class ones are a cheap purchase, so not sure it's worth weighing them...
 
My understanding is the Halon systems are no longer required on diesel powered boats. There needs to be a certain number of fire extinguishers, based on length of boat. I do get our halon inspected, as it is still installed.
 
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